Unbeaten sekiwake Mitakeumi maintained his winning streak from opening day of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on Friday, while ozeki Tochinoshin suffered his first loss.
The sixth day of the basho began with Kakuryu, the lone yokozuna in the basho, pulling out of the tournament, citing arthritis in his right elbow. It ended with Mitakeumi taking over the tournament as the sole leader.
Mitakeumi put on a display of strength by quickly forcing out No. 1 maegashira Shodai with many cheering onlookers holding up items emblazoned with his name.
A false start preceded a fierce exchange of thrusts and slaps that ended with komusubi Tamawashi (3-3) throwing down Tochinoshin.
The departure of Kakuryu -- with two yokozuna Kisenosato and Hakuho already withdrawing -- made the current basho the first tournament without any yokozuna since 2006.
Among the two ozeki, Takayasu (4-2) lost, while Goeido (4-2) managed a victory. They are both wrestling under "kadoban" status, meaning each needs a majority of wins in the 15-day basho to retain his rank.
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